Fontwell Christmas Parties - Book Now Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:10 | Winning time: 5m 22.4s

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Selected odds by:

Super Sabre Sam^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 110| C

5/2

Landed a 19f maiden here in October and has performed well in 3 of his 5 subsequent starts in handicap company, most recently coming fifth in a 10-runner C&D contest. The first-time cheekpieces he sported that day are retained and a case can be made off this 1 lb lower mark.

Form: 183395-

Golden Ambition¹¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 108| CD

13/2

Returned from a summer break an improved performer last year, finishing second over 19f here prior to winning handicaps over C&D and at Lingfield. Followed that brace with a creditable effort at Ascot and, though below par when last seen in January, he's certainly not one to write off.

Form: U21129-

Decorated²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Jones| T: O Signy| OR: 105| C

13/8

First run here resulted in a heavy defeat last spring but the return to this course has had a positive effect the last twice, finding just one too good in March (19f, good to soft) before making all over the same trip last month. 7 lb rise fair and this step back up in trip shouldn't be an issue.

Form: 5PP421-

Miss Ireland^p⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 104| C

25/1

Didn't look straightforward when winning a bumper on debut here in November but she nevertheless did the job well. Went close on second hurdles start at Lingfield (19.5f, heavy) in February but then took a backward step on handicap bow at Ascot where she again exhibited some wayward tendencies.

Form: P15425-

Danton^p,t¹³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Rex Dingle| T: H Fry| OR: 103| D

22/1

Immediate improvement switched to handicaps in early part of 2023/24 campaign but it's worrying that he has been pulled up on 4 of his last 6 starts, including both since returning from a break/wind op in November. Risky.

Form: PP2/4PP-

Lord Maher^p1⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: K Jewell| OR: 100

25/1

Winning hurdles debut at Roscommon last June but subsequent efforts for this yard have not been at all inspiring, including when beaten a long way on handicap debut over 17.7f here last month. Now tried in cheekpieces and steps up in trip.

Form: UF1636-

Rockola²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 100

10/3

Made winning handicap debut at Southwell (20.4f, good) in November and followed up on soft ground at Huntingdon at the beginning of January. Well held upped to 25f in hat-trick bid at the latter course but back on track when third at Ludlow (21.2f, good) last time and she needs considering.

Form: 2/41163-

Forecasts

Decorated (13/8), Super Sabre Sam (5/2), Rockola (10/3), Golden Ambition (13/2), Danton (22/1), Miss Ireland (25/1), Lord Maher (25/1)

While DECORATED had the run of things when making all over 19f here last month, it was a decisive success all the same and he remains on an attractive mark up 7 lb. Furthermore, it's entirely possible that he will again benefit from a soft lead and, if so, the 7-y-o could prove hard to peg back. Rockola quickly bounced back from a low-key effort on her penultimate start when third at Ludlow last time and she is feared most ahead of Super Sabre Sam.